this great fight, and in the front rank stands Detroit-the metropolis of Michigan, although not its capital-certainly deserving a share of our admiration. It would be altogether wanting in good taste if I should attempt to single out, among the names which have been presented to us in the beautiful sketch of the history of the board, anyone for special mention, but I would like to say that I think no one could read that sketch, and the brief biographical notices of the members of the Michigan State Board of Health, without being impressed with this fact: that the great majority of them are men of high culture, as evidenced by the possession of literary degrees on the part of a large proportion of them, and by their literary contributions of all to the great cause of sanitation. I do not think there is another such record in the State Boards of the whole country. I thank you again, sir, for your kind words of welcome. PROCEEDINGS. The thirteenth annual regular session of the Conference of State and Provincial Boards of Health of North America opened in the ordinary of Hotel Cadillac, Detroit, Mich., at 9 a. m., Wednesday, August 10, 1898, the President, Dr. Benjamin Lee, Pennsylvania, in the chair. The Conference was called to order by Hon. Frank Wells, Chairman of the Michigan State Board of Health, after which prayer was offered by Rev. John McCarroll, of Grace Episcopal Church, Detroit. The address of welcome was delivered by Dr. Heneage Gibbes, Health Officer of Detroit, and responded to by the President, Dr. Benjamin Lee, of Pennsylvania. Secretary called the roll of the States, which was responded to as follows: California--D. D. Crowley.. Connecticut-R. S. Goodwin, C. A. Lindsley. Illinois J. A. Egan, C. B. Johnson, A. R. Reynolds. Kentucky Dr. William Bailey. Louisiana-Dr. Felix Formento, Dr. John Castellaneos. Probst. Pennsylvania-Benjamin Lee. Rhode Island-G. T. Swarts. West Virginia-C. B. Benbaugh. Wisconsin-Q. O. Sutherland. Ontario Peter H. Bryce, A. T. Rice. Manitoba J. A. Patterson. Quebec Elzear Pelletier. Michigan-Frank Wells, Samuel G. Milner, Henry B. Baker, Frederick G. Novy, Fred R. Belknap, Delos Fall, Aaron V. McAlvoy. Minnesota-H. M. Bracken. New York--Dr. S. C. Jones. Dr. C. O. Probst, Ohio, moved that any Municipal health offi cers present be accorded the privileges of the floor. by Dr. H. B. Baker, of Michigan, and carried. Seconded Dr. H. B. Baker, Michigan, moved that any State vital statisticians present, such as Dr. C. L. Wilbur, of Michigan, be accorded the privileges of the floor. Seconded by Dr. C. O. Probst, Ohio, and carried. PROGRAM. First Session, Wednesday, August 10, 1898. 1. Call to order, Mr. Henry A. Haigh, Chairman Local Committee. 2. Prayer, Rev. John McCarroll, Detroit. 3. Welcome, Dr. Heneage Gibbs, Health Officer of Detroit. 4. Response on behalf of the Conference, President Benjamin Lee. 5. Call of Roll of the States and presentation of credentials of delegates. 6. Report of Secretary. 7. Report of Treasurer. 8. Reports of Committees. 9. Miscellaneous communications, suggestions, etc. 10. Answers by the represented Boards of Health to the questions suggested by Michigan: "What are the Principal Lines of Work of Your Board?" "How is Each Accomplished?" "What Modification, if any, does the Experience of Your State Suggest?" 11. Volunteer papers. Special discussions. Afternoon, Wednesday, August 10, 1898. To the members of the Conference, their ladies and guests, a cordial tinvitation is extended by Parke, Davis & Co. to partake of a luncheon which will be served at their laboratories at 12:30 p. m., immediately upon the arrival of the visitors. After luncheon ample opportunity will be afforded to inspect the firm's biological and pharmaceutical laboratories. Immediately upon the noon adjournment members and guests will take trolley cars in Rowland street, on the east side of the Hotel Cadillac,, for the ride to Parke, Davis & Co.'s. Members will please be prompt, as the cars cannot be kept waiting. The trip of inspection is to be followed by a boat ride on the Detroit river and Lake St. Clair, this entertainment being provided by the Local Committee; the steamer will be in readiness at the dock in front of Parke, Davis & Co.'s establishment. Evening Session. This session will be of popular interest and will take the form of A DISCUSSION OF THE PURIFICATION OF SURFACE WATER. Discussion to be opened by Gardner S. Williams, Engineer of the Detroit Water Board, and by J. N. Hurty, M. D., Secretary Indiana State Board of Health. Morning Session, Thursday, August 11, 1898. DISCUSSION ON THE RESTRICTION AND PREVENTION OF TUBERCULOSIS IN ITS VARIOUS PHASES. (a) Direct cause-tubercle bacilli. (b) Indirect cause. (1) Inherited predisposition. (2) Depressed physical condition from bad hygiene, lack of physical culture, other diseases making favorable soil, etc. Gardner T. Swarts, Rhode Island. Discussion opened by J. A. Egan, Illinois. PHASE II. MORBID ANATOMY. Showing its multifarious lesions affecting almost every organ of the body. F. B. Wynn, Indiana. Discussion opened by C. A. Lindsley, Connecticut. PHASE III. IDENTITY OF TUBERCULOSIS IN MAN AND ANIMALS AND ITS WIDE DISTRIBUTION AMONG THE LATTER; ALSO ITS COMMUNICATION TO MAN THROUGH FOOD. D. E. Salmon, Washington, D. C. Discussion opened by George W. Harrison, Wisconsin. REPORT OF THE WORK OF THE NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF By S. Case Jones, M. D., Rochester, N. Y., Chairman Tuberculosis Committee, New York State Board of Health. Final Session, Thursday Afternoon, August 11, 1898. PHASE IV. STATISTICS. Showing the proportion of: Pulmonary Diseases in Man Due to Tuberculosis. Diseases of Nervous System Due to Tuberculosis. Byron Stanton, Ohio. Discussion opened by R. S. Goodwin, Connecticut. PHASE V. ECONOMICS. (a) What is the annual pecuniary loss in the United States due to tuberculosis in man and animals? (b) Does it in any way interfere with commerce and the public defense? Wm. H. Brewer, Connecticut. Discussion opened by Wm. Bailey, Kentucky. PHASE VI. TUBERCULOSIS IN ITS RELATION TO NERVOUS DISEASES. U. O. B. Wingate, Wisconsin. Discussion opened by W. T. Miller, Ohio. PHASE VII. How MAY TUBERCULOSIS BE PREVENTED? (a) “Care of Expectoration." Chas. B. Johnson, Illinois. Discussion (b) "Disinfection of Houses, Buildings, Cars and Steamboats." P. 'A. (d) "Ventilation and Outdoor Life." E. A. Guilbert, Iowa. Discussion 66 (e) Reporting Cases." Felix Formento, Louisiana. Discussion opened by Solon Marks, Wisconsin. (f) "How May the Objections of Physicians and People to Reporting Tuberculosis be Overcome?" Henry B. Baker, Michigan. Discussion opened by D. D. Crowley, California. (g) "State and Municipal Care." S. A. Knopf, New York. Discussion opened by E. L. Standlee, Missouri. (h) "What Position Shall State Laboratories Take in Respect to the Examination of Sputum?" Henry Mitchell, New Jersey. Discussion opened by H. M. Bracken, Minnesota. ADJOURNMENT. Secretary read his report, as follows, and, on motion, it was ordered received and filed: SECRETARY'S REPORT. The minutes of the last meeting, at Nashville, were given to the stenographer by the temporary Secretary. These the stenographer incorporated with the papers and the discussions, and he, after a delay of several months, due to an attack of typhoid fever, transmitted the complete record to the Secretary. As soon as bids could be obtained, five hundred copies of the report were printed and then distributed, ten copies to each of the following States, only those paying dues having reports sent to them: There are now on hand 150 copies. The cost of printing five hundred copies of the report and five hundred advance circulars was $175. The cost for distribution was $7.60. The Secretary, in accord with a resolution of the Executive Committee, addressed the following letter to all the State Boards of Health of the United States not heretofore participating in the Conference, also to all the States of Mexico, and all the Provinces of Canada, except Ontario and Quebec, the latter being omitted because they already belonged to the Conference: Indianapolis, Ind., October 14, 1897. Gentlemen-I have the honor to officially inform you that at the twelfth annual meeting of the National Conference of State Boards of Health, held at Nashville, Tenn., U. S. A., on August 18 and 19, 1897, the name of the organization was changed to Conference of State and Provincial Boards of Health of North America. This change was made to better express, in its title, the scope and aim of the organization. The object of the Conference is to bring together the legally empowered workers in sanitation on this continent, to discuss the questions that are of special interest in their work, to help solve embarrassing questions, and to bring, as far as possible, uniformity in methods and corporations of Boards of Health with one another. All State and Provincial Boards of Health are cordially invited to authorize the Secretary of the National Conference to subscribe their names to the roll of membership, and to send delegates to the next meeting, to be held in Detroit, Mich., U. S. A., date of meeting to be given. I hope an early reply will be received announcing that your Board will enter membership in the Conference. Very respectfully, J. N. HURTY, From Mexico but one reply was received, the same being from the State of Mexico, accepting membership. Of the Canadian provinces, replies came from Manitoba and New Brunswick, both accepting membership. |